The 15th Annual Conference of the Asian Criminological Society (ACS) was held from August 8-10, 2024, at the Midas Hotel in Pasay City, Philippines. With the theme “Criminology, Criminal Justice, Technology, and Public Safety,” the event gathered criminologists, law enforcement professionals, and policymakers to discuss the intersection of technology and criminology in addressing contemporary challenges.
Hosted by the Professional Criminologists Association of the Philippines (PCAP) and co-presented by the Philippine College of Criminology (PCCR), the conference highlighted key issues such as cybercrime prevention, AI in criminal justice, and public safety management. Plenary sessions explored the role of technology in modern criminological practices, while parallel sessions delved into topics including juvenile justice, forensic science, gender crimes, and restorative justice.
PCAP President Dr. Gerry Cano expressed pride in bringing this international conference back to Manila, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among Asian criminologists. ACS President Prof. Ramasubbu Thilagaraj from the University of Madras underscored the significance of knowledge-sharing in developing policies to enhance justice and public safety in Asia.
PCCR President Ms. Ma Angelica Lei Bautista noted the need for criminology education to adapt to new challenges like cybercrime and digital forensics, ensuring future criminologists are well-prepared. PRC Board of Criminology Chair Atty. Raul Gabao emphasized the conference’s role in shaping informed policies for public safety.
The conference concluded with an announcement that Queensland, Australia, will host the next ACS conference. The event was a significant step forward in addressing criminology’s evolving challenges in Asia and fostering regional collaboration for future advancements.
